20 Topeka-area high school girls basketball players to watch in 2023-24 season

TOPEKA — It's time to flip the calendar to winter sports season after basketball players from around the area have been perfecting their craft for several weeks in preparation for the first game.

Topeka-area teams will hit the hardwood for their first contest in the coming days. Let's take a look at 20 players who are hoping to make an impact on their team this winter.

Zoe Canfield, Washburn Rural

The Kansas signee will steal all of the headlines this winter season and deservedly so. She averaged 12.1 points per game last year before suffering a knee injury. The senior returned this fall for volleyball season and impressed. Canfield played just nine games last year, but this could be her best high school basketball season yet.

Kate Hinck, Washburn Rural

The junior guard was the fifth-highest scorer for Washburn Rural last season. She averaged 5.5 points per game and helped the Junior Blues reach the Class 6A state championship. Hinck also averaged 2.5 assists per game, the second-highest mark on the team.

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Ladaysha Baird, Topeka High

The second-highest scorer for the Trojans last season again will look to make an impact. Baird averaged 7.7 points per game and was prolific from behind the 3-point line as she shot 50% on 64 attempts. Baird will play collegiately at Cloud County Community College next year.

Keimara Marshall, Topeka High

The sophomore made her presence known as a freshman. She shot 80% from the free-throw line and averaged 1.3 assists per game. Marshall helped Topeka High to a 17-6 record as she was named the Centennial Conference’s newcomer of the year.

Amelia Ramsey, Highland Park

The reigning Meadowlark Conference Player of the Year returns after being an integral part of Highland Park’s success last season. Ramsey helped secure an undefeated conference championship and finished 19-4. She led the team averaging 19.8 points and all of Shawnee County with 15.8 rebounds per game. She hauled in 347 rebounds in 22 games while shooting efficiently as she made 65% of her shots on 230 attempts.

Deasia Sanders, Highland Park

While Ramsey stole the attention of opponents, Sanders was able to make teams pay with her scoring ability, too. Sanders averaged 12.2 points and 2.8 assists per game. She was named second-team All-Meadowlark Conference last year.

Tahtionna Broils, Highland Park

The junior was another player who made a mark for Highland Park’s successful season as an underclassman last year. Broils scored 7.5 points per game and shot 48.2% from the field. She also averaged 5.4 rebounds, which was the second-most on the roster.

Breezy Canady, Shawnee Heights

Canady has been synonymous with the Thunderbirds basketball roster. This will be her third year as the starting point guard and last season, she was the second-highest scorer on the team with 6.7 points per game. She led the team in assists with 2.6 per game and averaged 2.1 steals.

Anna Becker, Seaman

The player of the year for the United Kansas Conference returns for the Vikings. The junior guard was dominant last year as an underclassman, averaging 12 points and team-bests of 3.7 assists and 3.3 steals per game. During the offseason, Becker committed to Drake University.

Taylin Stallbaumer, Seaman

The multi-sport athlete was one of the key players for Seaman volleyball’s first state championship in history this fall. The senior returns to the court with the basketball team this winter after being named to the United Kansas Conference’s first team last season. She was an important part of a roster that finished with 21-2 as they were defeated in the Class 5A quarterfinals. Stallbaumer averaged 10.4 points and 3.0 steals per game.

Maddie Gragg, Seaman

Last season, Gragg was a welcomed addition to the Seaman basketball team. As a freshman, she was incredible with her scoring ability and presence on the court in her first varsity season. Gragg was the third and final Seaman player named to the United Kansas Conference’s first team. She led the Vikings in scoring with 13.4 points per game and shot over 60% from the field.

Zoe Clark, Topeka West

The senior for the Chargers has been one of the top players for Topeka West over the past several years. Clark is a very good 3-point shooter as she can score from about anywhere on the court if she is given an ounce of space. Her defense was great last season, too. She recorded multiple steals per game to help Topeka West get out in transition.

Lauren Sandstrom, Hayden

The leading scorer for Hayden last year returns for her senior season. Sandstrom, who committed to Rockhurst, averaged 13 points per game last season. She also hauled in six rebounds per game for the Wildcats. Sandstrom was named to the Centennial Conference’s first team last season.

Brylee Meier, Hayden

Meier returns to the Wildcats lineup this year after a stand-out sophomore season. The junior led Shawnee County in free-throw percentage as she hit 83.9% of her charity stripe shots on 62 attempts. Meier averaged 10 points per game, which placed her second on Hayden right behind Sandstrom. She was also key in collecting rebounds for the 15-8 Wildcats. Meier led the team with 6.5 rebounds per game.

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MaKenzie McDaniel, Silver Lake

The Emporia State commit led the Eagles with 14.4 points per game last season. McDaniel was a key piece to Silver Lake’s run in last year’s 3A state tournament run. This will be her fourth year starting with Silver Lake as she is a dynamic rebounder in the paint. She led the team with 9.1 boards per game a year ago.

McKinley Kruger, Silver Lake

Kruger was another important part of Silver Lake’s postseason run last season that ended in fourth place in Class 3A. Kruger picked up her first college offer this off-season from Ottawa University. Kruger averaged 13.8 points per game and dished out a team-high 3.2 assists per game. The senior has also started every game in her high school career with the Eagles.

Emma Mitchell, Rossville

Mitchell will join Silver Lake’s MaKenzie McDaniel next year at Emporia State. The senior led the Bulldogs in scoring with 13.8 points per game. She was also automatic for Rossville from the free-throw line where she made 81% of her shots. She also hauled in 3.7 rebounds per game.

Kinsey Perine, Rossville

The senior was everywhere on the court for the Bulldogs last year. She was involved in almost every play as she finished with nine points, seven rebounds, 6.8 assists and 5.8 steals per game. Perine notched a triple-double last year as the three-sport athlete shines on the court. She has committed to play softball for Emporia State following graduation this spring.

Rylee Dick, Rossville

Dick was one of the stand-outs for the Bulldogs last year as a freshman. She was the second-highest scorer for the team with 12 points per game. Dick was lethal from behind the 3-point line as she made 35 3-pointers last season. The sophomore will try to make an improved leap this season to continue helping Rossville hoops.

Josie Barkley, Cair Paravel

The senior guard led her team in scoring last season as a junior. She averaged 5.6 points per game as the Lions finished 7-14. Barkley earned second-team all-Kaw Valley last year.

Liam Keating covers high school sports for The Topeka Capital-Journal. You can reach him at Lkeating@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: 20 Topeka-area high school girls basketball players to watch in '23-24